Latest news with #DrMehdiAloosh
CTV News
27-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Medical Officer of Health hopeful the region is at the tail end of measles cases
A dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine awaits the next patient during a vaccine clinic at Southwestern Public Health in St. Thomas, Ont. on Tuesday, March 4, CANADIAN PRESS/Geoff Robins A positive update on measles cases within Windsor-Essex. The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) Board met on Thursday afternoon where an update on local measles cases was provided by the Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Mehdi Aloosh. The update indicated that the region is at the tail end of the outbreak with only two confirmed measles cases for the month of June. The region has slowly been seeing a downward trend. April saw the peak of the cases with 82 confirmed, however cases fell to 19 in May. Dr. Aloosh stated there's been a significant reduction in cases. 'Other indicators including wastewater surveillance are going down, so we are probably at the tail end of the outbreak,' he said. 'But we need to ensure that we keep our guards up, and we be vigilant about any future cases.' He added vaccination is still key. 'Kids now are in summer camps, so still there's a chance of transmission of disease, even at this time. So, yes I recommend our community vaccinate their children.' He remains hopeful that by winter there are no more cases. 'For decades Canada eliminated measles which meant that there was no transmission from one case to the other case, so this is our hope that by the winter we go back to that situation,' he said. Dr. Aloosh added that now that children are done school for the summer, it's a good idea to vaccinate prior to school starting in September to ensure there is no spike in cases. Windsor-Essex saw their first confirmed case of measles locally in February and have since confirmed 147 cases. Those who may have been exposed to measles are asked to contact the WECHU and monitor for symptoms of measles that may appear seven to 21 days after exposure. Those experiencing extreme symptoms that require medical attention are encouraged to visit the emergency department. - Written by Meagan Delaurier/AM800 News.
CTV News
07-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Windsor's top doctor urges caution as wildfire smoke pushes air quality off the charts
With skies hazy and Detroit's skyline nearly invisible across the river, Windsor-Essex's top doctor is urging residents to keep a close eye on air quality conditions — and to take steps to protect themselves. 'My recommendation as always when it comes to wildfire smoke, is to check air quality every day,' said Dr. Mehdi Aloosh, Medical Officer of Health for the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit. Aloosh says people with conditions like asthma, COPD or heart disease are especially vulnerable when smoke levels rise and recommends downloading an air quality tracking app for up-to-date local data. 'It provides us with an hourly air quality score,' he said, 'and then there's a recommendation attached to that score so people can adjust their schedule based on that.' On Friday, Environment Canada issued a special air quality statement for Windsor-Essex, warning that the region's air pollution index had reached 10+, a level considered 'very high risk' to human health. The scale technically tops out at 10. The smoke is coming from wildfires burning across Western Canada and drifting south — blanketing Southwestern Ontario and settling over the Windsor-Detroit region. At one point Friday afternoon, Detroit was ranked as having the worst air quality in the world, according to IQAir's global tracking system. Aloosh recommends keeping windows closed to prevent fine particulate matter from getting inside. He also says using an air purifier, if available, can help filter smoke that does make its way indoors. And as smoky skies become a familiar summer sight, Aloosh warns we may need to get used to it. 'This is unfortunate,' he said. 'But going forward, we might see more of this poor air quality in our region. We should be prepared for that.' Experts say climate change is contributing to longer, more intense wildfire seasons — and with that, more days where the air we breathe could pose a serious risk.
CBC
28-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Measles cases slowing down in Windsor-Essex, says health unit
Dr. Mehdi Aloosh, Medical Officer of Health with the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, describes a drop-off in the number of measles cases in the region. But he cautions it's still 'the most contagious disease' known to medical science, and vaccination remains important.
